Magnetic recording head and magnetic recording method

ABSTRACT

A magnetic recording head includes: a main magnetic pole containing a ferromagnetic layer; a main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion containing an antiferromagnetic layer in contact with at least one side surface of the main magnetic pole; a heater for heating at least the main magnetic pole so that a magnetic interaction between the main magnetic pole and the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion can be decreased; and a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field so as to direct a magnetization of the main magnetic pole in one direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2007-094475, filed on Mar.30, 2007 and 2007-141827, filed on May 29, 2007; the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a newly structured magnetic recordinghead and a magnetic recording method utilizing the magnetic recordinghead.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a longitudinal magnetic recording method has been employed asa magnetic recording method. In the longitudinal magnetic recordingmethod, the magnetizations relating to signals to be recorded aredirected in parallel in the plane of a recording medium. However, theinstability in the signals becomes remarkable due to heat fluctuation asthe recording density becomes high so that the longitudinal magneticrecording method is substituted with a perpendicular magnetic recordingmethod because the longitudinal magnetic recording method can maintainthe signals stably. With the perpendicular magnetic recording method,since the magnetizations relating to the signals are directedperpendicular to the plane of the recording medium, a perpendicularrecording magnetic head is required so as to realize the perpendicularmagnetic recording method.

FIG. 1 is a structural view schematically showing a magnetic recordingmethod using a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording head. InFIG. 1, a perpendicular magnetic recording head (hereinafter, oftenabbreviated as a “recording head”) 10 includes a main magnetic pole 11and a pair of submagnetic poles 12 which are arranged by a predeterminedgap width. The rear end of the main magnetic pole 11 is magneticallyconnected with one of the sub magnetic poles 12. A coil 13 is woundaround the main magnetic pole 11 so as to generate a writing magneticfield. A magnetic recording medium 20 is configured such that arecording layer 21 and a soft magnetic underlayer 22 are arranged via anon-magnetic intermediate layer 23.

The spacer layer magnetically divide the pinned layer and the free layerso that the magnetization of the free layer can be rotated independentlyfrom the magnetization of the pinned layer.

In writing, a writing current is flowed in the coil 13 to generate thecurrent magnetic field at the main magnetic pole 11. As a result, themagnetizations of the main pole 11 are aligned along the direction ofthe writing current to generate the leaked magnetic field as a writingmagnetic field. The writing magnetic field is applied to the magneticrecording medium 20 so as to penetrate through the magnetic recordingmedium 20. In this case, the bit information of the recording layer 21is rewritten so that the writing magnetic field is circulated toward thesub magnetic poles 12 via the soft magnetic underlayer 22.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory views for the writing process of therecording head shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, when the currentmagnetic field is applied to the main magnetic pole 11 from the coil 13,the magnetization Ms of the main magnetic pole 11 is directed downwardso that the writing process for the recording layer 21 of the magneticrecording medium 20 can be carried out by the leaked magnetic field fromthe magnetization Ms. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the currentmagnetic field is not applied to the main magnetic pole 11 from the coil13 under the non-writing process, but the remnant magnetization MRoccurs in the main magnetic pole 11 so as to realize the rewritingprocess of the bit information in the area of recording layer 21 locatedunder the main magnetic pole 11. Such a rewriting process is called as a“Pole erasure”.

In order to prevent the Pole erasure, such an attempt as devising theshape of the main magnetic pole 11 is made, but the writing efficiencycan not be enhanced sufficiently and the Pole erasure can not besuppressed sufficiently because the writing efficiency is traded offwith the Pole erasure. At present, the writing efficiency and the Poleerasure are appropriately controlled in view of the trade-off relationas occasion demands.

Recently, in view of the above problem, a new type magnetic recordinghead is proposed. In the magnetic recording head, main magneticpole-magnetization fixing portions 24 made of antiferromagnetic materialare disposed at both sides of the main magnetic pole 11 respectively soas to generate the magnetization toward the track width direction of themagnetic recording medium in the main magnetic pole 11 through theexchange coupling between the main magnetic pole 11 and the fixingportions 24 and then, conduct the writing process using the leakedmagnetic field from the magnetization (Reference 1). FIGS. 4 and 5 showthe magnetic recording head as described above. FIG. 4 shows the stateof the magnetic recording head under the standby state, that is,not-writing condition. In this case, the magnetization of the mainmagnetic pole 11 becomes parallel to the surface of the recording layer21 through the exchange coupling between the main magnetic pole 11 andthe fixing portions 24. FIG. 5 shows the state of the magnetic recordinghead under the writing condition. In this case, the magnetization of themain magnetic pole 11 becomes perpendicular to the recording layer 21along the current magnetic field Bs by the current flowed in the coil13. In this case, the Pole erasure can be suppressed, but the writingefficiency is reduced because the magnetization of the main magneticpole is unlikely to be directed perpendicular to the surface of therecording layer.

-   [Reference 1] JP-A 2006-190397 (KOKAI)

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention relates to a magnetic recording headincluding: a main magnetic pole containing a ferromagnetic layer; a mainmagnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion containing anantiferromagnetic layer in contact with at least one side surface of themain magnetic pole; a heater for heating at least the main magnetic poleso that a magnetic interaction between the main magnetic pole and themain magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion can be decreased; and amagnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field so as to directa magnetization of the main magnetic pole in one direction.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a magnetic recordingmethod using a magnetic recording head including; a main magnetic polecontaining a ferromagnetic layer; a main magnetic pole-magnetizationfixing portion containing an antiferromagnetic layer in contact with atleast one side surface of the main magnetic pole; a heater for the mainmagnetic pole; and a magnetic field generator for generating a magneticfield so as to direct a magnetization of the main magnetic pole in onedirection, including: heating, in writing, the main magnetic pole withthe heater so that a magnetic interaction between the main magnetic poleand the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion can bedecreased; and generating, in the writing, the magnetic field with themagnetic generator so that the magnetization of the main magnetic polecan be directed perpendicular to a surface of a recording medium by themagnetic field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural view schematically showing a conventionalperpendicular magnetic recording head.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for the writing process using the magneticrecording head as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is also an explanatory view for the writing process using themagnetic recording head as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for the writing process using a magneticrecording head with an antiferromagnetic layer.

FIG. 5 is also an explanatory view for the writing process using amagnetic recording head with an antiferromagnetic layer.

FIG. 6 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto a first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is also a structural view showing the magnetic recording headaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relation between the heating temperatureof the main magnetic pole and the magnetic field of unidirectionalmagnetic anisotropy (Hua) in the magnetic recording head according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is also a structural view showing the magnetic recording headaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the magnetization of FeRh alloy withtemperature.

FIG. 12 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto still another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto a further embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto a still further embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a structural view showing a magnetic recording head accordingto still another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the drawings.

In a magnetic recording head including a main magnetic pole containing aferromagnetic layer and a main magnetic pole-magnetization fixingportion as shown in Reference 1, if a heater is provided for the mainmagnetic pole so as to heat the main magnetic pole, the magneticinteraction between the main magnetic pole and the main magneticpole-magnetization fixing portion can be reduced. In writing, therefore,if at least the main magnetic pole is heated, the magnetization of themain magnetic pole can be directed perpendicular to the surface of therecording medium by the current magnetic field to be applied to the mainmagnetic field so that the writing efficiency can be enhanced.

In non-writing, the magnetization of the main magnetic pole can bedirected parallel to the surface of the recording medium through themagnetic interaction between the main magnetic pole and the mainmagnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion. In writing, therefore, therewriting for the recording medium by the magnetization of the mainmagnetic pole can be prevented so that the Pole erasure can bemitigated.

The main magnetic pole may be heated continuously or intermittently.Moreover, the heating process for the main magnetic pole can be stoppedwhen the magnetization of the main magnetic pole is directedperpendicular to the surface of the recording medium.

In an embodiment, the heater includes a metallic body attached to themain magnetic pole. In this case, the main magnetic pole can be heatedby the Joule heat generated by flowing a current in the metallic body.Therefore, the main magnetic pole can be heated by the simplified heaterin structure.

In another embodiment, the heater includes an oxide layer with a metalpath therein embedded in or provided in the vicinity of the mainmagnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion and a pair of electrodes,provided in the vicinity of the oxide layer, for flowing a currentparallel to a surface of a recording medium through the metal path. Inthis case, only the temperature in the area in the vicinity of the metalpath can be increased. Moreover, the wide range temperature control ofseveral ten degrees Celsius to several hundred degrees Celsius can beconducted only by controlling the amount of current flowing in the metalpath. In addition, since only the temperature in the area in thevicinity of the metal path is increased, the area is cooled down to roomtemperature immediately by stopping the flow of current in the metalpath. Therefore, the heating and cooling operation for the main magneticpole can be easily and immediately conducted.

According to the aspects of the present invention can be provided a newmagnetic recording head which can mitigate the Pole erasure under thecondition of the non-reduction of the writing efficiency and a magneticrecording method using the magnetic recording head.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 6 and 7 relate to a structural view showing a magnetic recordinghead according to a first embodiment. FIG. 6 shows the non-writing stateof the magnetic recording head and FIG. 7 shows the writing state of themagnetic recording head. Like or corresponding components are designatedby the same reference numerals throughout the drawings.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the magnetic recording head 10 includes the mainmagnetic pole 11 and the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixingportions 24 in contact with both sides of the main magnetic pole 11. Themain magnetic pole 11 is constituted from a ferromagnetic layer made ofFeCo-based alloy which can exhibit a larger recording magnetic field dueto the larger saturated magnetization thereof. The intensity of themagnetization Ms of the alloy can be varied by controlling thecomposition of the alloy. The FeCo-based alloy may contain a thirdelement such as Cr as occasion demands. When the FeCo-based alloycontains the third element, the magnetization Ms of the main magneticpole 11 is decreased but the corrosion-resistance of the main magneticpole 11 can be enhanced.

The main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24 are constitutedfrom antiferromagnetic layers, respectively. As the antiferromagneticlayer, an IrMn layer, PtMn layer, FeMn layer, NiMn layer, Ni—O layer,Fe—O layer and Ni—Fe—O layer can be exemplified.

Then, the coil 13, made of, e.g., Cu, is wound around the main magneticpole 11 to generate a writing magnetic field. Then, a metallic body suchas a Cu foil is wound as a heating mechanism around the end portion ofthe main magnetic pole 11 at the opposite side of the recording layer.

Then, the recording method using the magnetic recording head 10 shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, first of all, underthe non-writing state when the current magnetic field (Hcurr) is notapplied to the main magnetic pole 11 from the coil 13, the main magneticpole 11 made of the ferromagnetic material is annealed under magneticfield so that the magnetization Ms of the main magnetic pole 11 is set(fixed) parallel to the surface of the recording layer 21 (magneticrecording medium), through the fixing magnetic field from the mainmagnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24. Instead of the annealingprocess, the magnetization Ms of the main magnetic pole 11 can be fixedby conducting the film formation under magnetic field.

The fixing magnetic field is called as a “magnetic field ofunidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua). According to the magneticfield of unidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua), since themagnetization Ms of the main magnetic pole 11 becomes parallel to thesurface of the recording layer 21 under the condition that the currentmagnetic field (Hcurr) is not applied, no perpendicular leaked magneticfield, which affects the recording condition of the recording layer 21,is generated. Therefore, the recording layer 21 is not rewritten bymistake under the non-writing state and thus, the Pole erasure can beprevented.

Under the writing state, a current is flowed in the Cu foil 15 togenerate a Joule heat and then, heat the main magnetic pole 11 to apredetermined temperature by the Joule heat until the magnetic field ofunidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua) is decreased remarkably. Inthis case, when the current magnetic field (Hcurr) is applied from thecoil 13, the relation of the current magnetic field (Hcurr)>the magneticfield of unidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua) can be satisfied eventhough the intensity of the current magnetic field (Hcurr) is relativelysmall. Therefore, the magnetization Ms of the main magnetic pole 11 canbe directed perpendicular to the surface of the recording layer 21(magnetic recording medium) by the current magnetic field (Hcurr)against the magnetic field of unidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua)so that the leaked magnetic field can be generated perpendicular to thesurface of the recording layer 21.

As a result, the writing operation for the recording layer 21 can beperformed using the most of the leaked magnetic field so that thewriting efficiency can be enhanced. In other words, according to thisembodiment, a new type magnetic recording head which can mitigate thePole erasure under the condition of the non-reduction of the writingefficiency can be provided and the new magnetic recording method usingthe magnetic recording head can be provided.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relation between the heating temperatureof the main magnetic pole 11 and the magnetic field of unidirectionalmagnetic anisotropy (Hua) in this embodiment. The magnetic field ofunidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua) is normalized arbitrarily. InFIG. 8, the main magnetic pole 11 is made of the FeCo-based alloy andthe main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion 24 is made of IrMn.As is apparent from FIG. 8, the magnetic field of unidirectionalmagnetic anisotropy (Hua) is decreased with the increase of the heatingtemperature of the main magnetic pole 11 and diminished around 250° C.In this case, since the magnetic field of unidirectional magneticanisotropy (Hua) becomes half at about 150° C., the writing operationcan be performed at about 150° C. by using the current magnetic field(Hcurr) of a relatively small intensity.

Not shown, when the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24are made of PtMn as the antiferromagnetic material, the magnetic fieldof unidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua) is decreased with theincrease of the heating temperature of the main magnetic pole 11 anddiminished around 300° C.

The cross-section area of the forefront of the main magnetic pole 11,which is along the surface of the recording layer 21 (magnetic recordingmedium), is set small in order to develop the recording efficiency. Notshown, when the length of the side along the track width direction inthe forefront of the main magnetic pole 11 is set to 0.1 μm and thelength of the side along the track direction in the forefront of themain magnetic pole 11 is set to 0.25 μm and when the main magnetic pole11 is made of FeCo and the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixingportions 24 are made of IrMn, the writing operation for the recordinglayer 21 can be performed by applying the current magnetic field (Hcurr)of 2.2(T) from the coil 13 under the condition that the boundarytemperature between the pole 11 and the portions 24 is heated to 150° C.Herein, the recording layer 21 means a perpendicular two-layeredstructure of the recording layer with the magnetization easy axisperpendicular to the surface thereof and the underlayer of soft magneticproperty formed under the recording layer, strictly.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 9 and 10 relate to a structural view showing a magnetic recordinghead according to a second embodiment.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the magnetic recording head 10 includes the mainmagnetic pole 11 and the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixingportions 24 in contact with both sides of the main magnetic pole 11. Themain magnetic pole 11 is constituted from a ferromagnetic layer made ofFeCo-based alloy which can exhibit a larger recording magnetic field dueto the larger saturated magnetization thereof. The intensity of themagnetization Ms of the alloy can be varied by controlling thecomposition of the alloy. The FeCo-based alloy may contain a thirdelement such as Cr as occasion demands. When the FeCo-based alloycontains the third element, the magnetization Ms of the main magneticpole 11 is decreased but the corrosion-resistance of the main magneticpole 11 can be enhanced.

The main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24 are constitutedfrom antiferromagnetic layers, respectively. As the antiferromagneticlayer, an IrMn layer, PtMn layer, FeMn layer, NiMn layer, Ni—O layer,Fe—O layer and Ni—Fe—O layer can be exemplified.

In this embodiment, oxide layers 16 are embedded in the main magneticpole-magnetization fixing portions 24 so as to form metal paths 17between the adjacent oxide layers 16, respectively. Then, a pair ofelectrodes 18 are formed in contact with the outer side surfaces of themain magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24.

The oxide layers 16 are made of Al oxide such as Al₂O₃, Ti oxide, Hfoxide, Mg oxide, Zr oxide, Cr oxide, Ta oxide, Nb oxide, Mo oxide, Sioxide, V oxide or the like. Then, a third additive may be contained inthe oxide layer 16 as occasion demands. As the third additive, Ti, Hf,Mg, Zr, V, Mo, Si, Cr, Nb, Ta, W, B, C, V can be exemplified. The metalpaths 17 can be made of the same antiferromagnetic material as the mainmagnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion 24 originated from theforming process thereof. The electrodes 18 may be made of a metallicmaterial commercially available such as Cu, Au, Ag.

In this embodiment, first of all, the main magnetic pole 11 is made ofthe ferromagnetic material, and then, a first antiferromagnetic layer,an oxide layer, a second antiferromagnetic layer and an electrode aresubsequently formed on each of the side surfaces of the main magneticpole 11. The film forming process can be performed by means of aconventional method such as sputtering method or CVD method.Alternatively, the film forming process can be performed by conductingion beam irradiation or plasma irradiation for the firstantiferromagnetic layer and/or the oxide layer after the firstantiferromagnetic layer or the oxide layer is formed. In this case, theelements of the first antiferromagnetic layer are pumped up into theoxide layer to form the metal paths 17 as described above. The firstantiferromagnetic layer and the second antiferromagnetic layerconstitute the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion 24 asthey are and the electrode directly constitutes the electrode 18 as itis.

Then, the recording method using the magnetic recording head 10 shown inFIGS. 9 and 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, first of all,under the non-writing state when the current magnetic field (Hcurr) isnot applied to the main magnetic pole 11 from the coil 13, the mainmagnetic pole 11 made of the ferromagnetic material is annealed undermagnetic field so that the magnetization Ms of the main magnetic pole 11is set (fixed) parallel to the surface of the recording layer 21(magnetic recording medium), through the fixing magnetic field from themain magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24. Instead of theannealing process, the magnetization Ms of the main magnetic pole 11 canbe fixed by conducting the film formation under magnetic field.

In the non-writing state, according to the magnetic field ofunidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua), since the magnetization Ms ofthe main magnetic pole 11 becomes parallel to the surface of therecording layer 21 under the condition that the current magnetic field(Hcurr) is not applied, no perpendicular leaked magnetic field, whichaffects the recording condition of the recording layer 21, is generated.Therefore, the recording layer 21 is not rewritten by mistake under thenon-writing state and thus, the Pole erasure can be prevented.

Under the writing state, a given voltage is applied between theelectrodes 18 so as to flow a current in the metal paths 17 to generateJoule heats around the areas “A” in the vicinity of the metal paths 17and then, heat the boundaries between the antiferromagnetic layersconstituting the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24 andthe main magnetic pole 11 to a predetermined temperature by the Jouleheats until the magnetic field of unidirectional magnetic anisotropy(Hua) is decreased remarkably. The relation between the magnetic fieldof unidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua) and the heating temperatureis similar to the relation in FIG. 8 relating to the first embodiment.In this case, when the current magnetic field (Hcurr) is applied fromthe coil 13, the relation of the current magnetic field (Hcurr)>themagnetic field of unidirectional magnetic anisotropy (Hua) can besatisfied even though the intensity of the current magnetic field(Hcurr) is relatively small. Therefore, the magnetization Ms of the mainmagnetic pole 11 can be directed perpendicular to the surface of therecording layer 21 (magnetic recording medium) by the current magneticfield (Hcurr) against the magnetic field of unidirectional magneticanisotropy (Hua) so that the leaked magnetic field can be generatedperpendicular to the surface of the recording layer 21.

As a result, the writing operation for the recording layer 21 can beperformed using the most of the leaked magnetic field so that thewriting efficiency can be enhanced. In other words, according to thisembodiment, a new type magnetic recording head which can mitigate thePole erasure under the condition of the non-reduction of the writingefficiency can be provided and the new magnetic recording method usingthe magnetic recording head can be provided.

In this embodiment, only the temperature in the areas “A” in thevicinity of the metal paths 17 can be increased. Moreover, the widerange temperature control of several ten degrees Celsius to severalhundred degrees Celsius can be conducted only by controlling the amountof current flowing in the metal paths 17. The concrete increase intemperature of the area “A” in this embodiment was simulated and listedin Table 1.

TABLE 1 Temperture increase of metal path by application of voltage  90mV  +44° C. 120 mV  +78° C. 150 mV +127° C.

In this embodiment, since only the temperature in the areas “A” in thevicinity of the metal paths 17 is increased, the areas “A” are cooleddown to room temperature immediately by stopping the flow of current inthe metal paths 17. Therefore, the heating and cooling operation for themain magnetic pole 11 can be easily and immediately conducted.

Third Embodiment

In this embodiment, the material of the antiferromagnetic layerconstituting the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion 24 ofthe magnetic recording head in the first embodiment and the secondembodiment is changed. In this embodiment, namely, the antiferromagneticlayer is made of FeRh alloy. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the temperaturedependence of the FeRh alloy. The FeRh alloy exhibits magnetic phasetransition around room temperature, antiferromagnetic property belowroom temperature and ferromagnetic property over room temperature. Thetemperature of the magnetic phase transition can be varied within atemperature range of several ten degrees Celsius by controlling thecomposition of the FeRh alloy and the forming method of the FeRh alloy.

If the antiferromagnetic layer of the main magnetic pole-magnetizationfixing portion 24 is made of the FeRh alloy, the following operation canbe conducted: Namely, the antiferromagnetic layer functions as anantiferromagnetic layer for fixing the magnetization of the mainmagnetic pole as it is at the standby state and functions as aferromagnetic layer at the writing state so as to increase thesubstantial magnetization of the magnetic recording head 10 incombination with the magnetization of the main magnetic pole 11. As aresult, the writing efficiency can be enhanced under the condition ofthe reduction of the Pole erasure.

Although the present invention was described in detail with reference tothe above examples, this invention is not limited to the abovedisclosure and every kind of variation and modification may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the configuration of the magnetic recording head in thefirst embodiment can be combined with the configuration of the magneticrecording head in the second embodiment. In this case, the temperaturecontrol for the main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions 24 canbe conducted for a short period of time. Concretely, in the magneticrecording head as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 relating to the secondembodiment, if the fixing portions 24 are heated to a predeterminedtemperature in advance by the heater 15 disposed at the top end of themain magnetic pole 11, the fixing portions 24 can be heated easily andimmediately to the temperature satisfying the relation of the currentmagnetic field (Hcurr)>the unidirectional magnetic anisotropy magneticfield (Hua).

In the above-embodiments, although the main magnetic pole-magnetizationfixing portions 24 made of antiferromagnetic layers are disposed at bothsides of the main magnetic pole 11, one of the main magneticpole-magnetization fixing portions 24 may be disposed at either side ofthe main magnetic pole 11. The concrete configuration will be describedin FIGS. 12 and 13. The main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portions24 made of antiferromagnetic layers may be disposed at the front sideand the rear side so as to sandwich the main magnetic pole 11 along thetrack width direction. The variations in the configuration of themagnetic recording head are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16and 17.

In the second embodiment, the oxide layers with the metal paths areembedded in the antiferromagnetic layers. However, the oxide layers maybe disposed at the inner sides of the electrodes 18. In this case, themetal layers are formed under the oxide layers, respectively so that theenergy applying operation such as ion beam irradiation is conducted tothe metal layers and/or the oxide layers to pump up the elements of themetal layers into the oxide layers and thus, form the metal paths. Sincethe material of the metal paths depends on the material of the metallayers, the sort of material of the metal paths can be changed bychanging the material of the metal layers.

1. A magnetic recording head, comprising: a main magnetic polecontaining a ferromagnetic layer; a main magnetic pole-magnetizationfixing portion containing an antiferromagnetic layer in contact with atleast one side surface of said main magnetic pole; a heater including ametallic body, being provided apart from said main magneticpole-magnetization fixing portion and being provided so as to surroundsaid main magnetic pole, for heating at least said main magnetic pole sothat a magnetic interaction between said main magnetic pole and saidmain magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion can be decreased; and amagnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field so as to directa magnetization of said main magnetic pole in one direction.
 2. Themagnetic recording head as set forth in claim 1, wherein in non-writing,said magnetization of said main magnetic pole is directed parallel to asurface of a recording medium through said magnetic interaction betweensaid main magnetic pole and said main magnetic pole-magnetization fixingportion, wherein in writing, said magnetization of said main magneticpole is directed perpendicular to said surface of said recording mediumthrough said magnetic interaction between said main magnetic pole andsaid main magnetic pole-magnetization fixing portion.
 3. The magneticrecording head as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ferromagnetic layercontains a FeCo-based alloy.
 4. The magnetic recording head as set forthin claim 1, wherein said antiferromagnetic layer contains at least oneselected from the group consisting of IrMn, PtMn, FeMn, NiMn, Ni—O, Fe—Oand Ni—Fe—O.
 5. The magnetic recording head as set forth in claim 1,wherein said antiferromagnetic layer contains a FeRh-based alloy.
 6. Amagnetic recording/reproducing device comprising a magnetic recordinghead as set forth in claim
 1. 7. A magnetic recording method using amagnetic recording head as set forth in claim 1, comprising: heating, inwriting, said main magnetic pole with said heater so that a magneticinteraction between said main magnetic pole and said main magneticpole-magnetization fixing portion can be decreased; and generating, insaid writing, said magnetic field with said magnetic generator so thatsaid magnetization of said main magnetic pole can be directedperpendicular to a surface of a recording medium by said magnetic field.